Play store
The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) and a visiting International Monetary Fund (IMF) technical assistance mission on Wednesday discussed measures to expand the country’s green and sustainability bond market, as Bangladesh seeks to mobilise greater private capital for climate-resilient and sustainable development.
The meeting, held at the BSEC headquarters in Dhaka, focused on strengthening Bangladesh’s sustainable finance ecosystem and aligning the capital market with international environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards.
BSEC Commissioner Tanwir Habib Rahman led the commission’s delegation, while the IMF team was headed by mission leader Suphachol Suphachalasai.
The discussions centred on developing Bangladesh’s market for green bonds, sustainability bonds and other thematic debt instruments, which are increasingly being used worldwide to finance renewable energy, climate adaptation, clean infrastructure and environmentally sustainable projects.
Officials from both sides exchanged views on a range of policy and market development issues, including the implementation of sustainable finance taxonomy, improving impact reporting standards, strengthening independent external review mechanisms and identifying potential issuers capable of raising funds through thematic bonds.
The meeting also explored ways to assess investor demand for sustainable investment products and improve coordination among financial regulators, development partners and market participants to accelerate the growth of Bangladesh’s sustainable capital market.
Participants emphasised that expanding the role of the capital market would be crucial in mobilising long-term financing for climate-resilient infrastructure and supporting Bangladesh’s transition towards a greener and more sustainable economy.
They noted that green and sustainability bonds have emerged globally as important financing instruments for achieving climate goals while providing investors with opportunities to support environmentally and socially responsible projects.
The discussions also highlighted the need to strengthen institutional capacity, enhance market awareness and establish a robust regulatory framework to ensure transparency, accountability and investor confidence in Bangladesh’s emerging sustainable bond market.
The meeting concluded with both sides agreeing on the importance of continued collaboration in capacity building, policy formulation and market infrastructure development in line with international best practices.
The IMF technical assistance mission is supporting Bangladesh’s efforts to deepen its capital market and strengthen sustainable finance frameworks as part of broader financial sector reforms.
Market experts believe that developing a vibrant green bond market could diversify sources of long-term financing, reduce dependence on traditional bank lending and help attract both domestic and international investors seeking environmentally sustainable investment opportunities.
Bangladesh has increasingly prioritised sustainable finance in recent years as it seeks to finance climate adaptation, renewable energy projects and green infrastructure while advancing its commitments to sustainable development and low-carbon economic growth.
